Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Two weeks of school holidays. Khalish has played with all the toys in the house within the first five days of the holidays. Nevertheless, he also spent as much time at a corner Kamal and I named The Art Shack. The reason I decided to mark the second week of holidays with a photo compilation of the soon to be four-year-old's passion in art, and his self-proclaimed masterpieces.

It was always interesting to watch his ideas being translated onto drawing pads. The manners he did so amused us, too. Occasionally intense, occasionally at ease. There was one similarity though: no matter how engrossed he was with other activities, the moment an idea strikes, to The Art Shack he zoomed.

Kamal and I chose to celebrate all the outcomes of Khalish's translated ideas. Truthfully celebrate them. Applaud each line, embrace each hue. Such love sparked more creativity.

Through the art works, we as parents were presented with the opportunities to know our son better. The art works portrayed his spirits, which further accentuated his personality. At times, those art works were accompanied by stories, from the simplest to the most complex. Oh, children and their potent imaginations.

Seeing his enthusiasm, we decided to enroll him into an art class. Which he loved. Which we also loved. We wish he becomes a person who acknowledges his potentials. Uniqueness, particularly.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Alhamdulillah, the basic facelift is 100 percent completed. Now, I shall experiment with the wet kitchen and the doors myself because the contractor quoted ridiculous prices for those. Of course, spring cleaning first, followed by more facelifts when the school holidays are over as it is impossible to clean the house when Khalish spreads his toys throughout the place.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

I amused myself with the ability to stay at home for two consecutive days. In fact, I was never out of Bandar Baru Bangi for the past one week. All because of a refurbishment project, which is required to revive my passion for the house.

Kamal agreed. He also longed to be as much in love with the house as felt four years ago. Due to hectic work schedule, he left 80 percent of the project management to me though. Which resulted in the home confinement.

Now, all I want to do is go out and about. To put on the seasoned sandals and drive to the other end of the state. To hop onto various trains and enjoy the city view. A simple way to unwind.

☙

Armed with a task or more, I went places. Some I favoured, some I learned to favour. Often, I ventured further than necessary, for a little thrill that added zest to everyday life. All before 6:00 p.m., the time to fetch Khalish from the nursery.

Like all of you, I value my personal time. One of the best spots I could be seen alone, for hours, was the book store. True, the World Wide Web offers infinity of information, but, it lacks one aspect only the books present: a scent that awakens more curiosities within me. Best enjoyed over iced bittersweet chocolate or multi flavoured salad. There was a time limit, sure, but, there was never a sense of haste during a solo excursion. At least, I never allowed it.

At slower pace, I saw differently. A multitude of visits to similar places challenged my perspective indeed. That, combined with being on my own sans any worry, contributed to this peculiar yearn for a day out. Away from home, away from Bandar Baru Bangi. I pray that the refurbishment project will be completed sooner than the schedule.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Khalish is the happiest person each time the weekend comes because he has daddy and mommy all to himself. Not last weekend though. He was sad to know that daddy needed to go to the office on Saturday and Sunday. Nevertheless, he became cheerful again to realise how undivided mommy's attention to him would be without the number one man around.

I did sneak away to my computer for a number of tasks when he was engrossed with Lego or doodle board or iPad or Disney Junior or books or all of them simultaneously. In the end, it seemed as though I was the one who craved for his attention. Heh.

How I actually wanted to walk to the playground with the little boy after tea times, but the weather was bleak. We watched slideshows of our favourite photo albums instead. The last slideshow we viewed was of a late afternoon in Taman Tasik Cempaka one fine weekday. As shown here.

We loved that late afternoon. The presence of other spirited families, the golden sun that enhanced the vibrant garden, the handsome black crow which graced the pleasant blue sky. Oh, we just could not refrain from those adjectives to describe how lovely it was.

Of course, it was especially beautiful because of the little boy's company. And, of all the beauties beheld, Khalish's joy was my favourite. I pray for more of such purity.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Tomorrow, the school Khalish attends will hold a celebration for mothers and teachers. Which reminds me of my son's antic on Mother's Day. Refer photo above.

The story:

Kamal, Khalish, and I were back from Rembau then. Being at home during the weekend has always been a bliss to us. No difference that Sunday evening. We lounged about. Personal agendas seemed to be our choices after the social do at my parents' place. Kamal with office assignments, I with the World Wide Web, Khalish with a variety of activities. A calm evening. Until Khalish tapped my shoulder. He simply said "mommy" with a sorrowful face, and pointed to the floor. There lay a whisk and a broken egg. "Khalish wants to bake cake for mommy, like Special Agent Oso."

I hugged him and silently wished myself 'Happy Mother's Day'. No cake in the end. Kamal, Khalish, and I eventually celebrated the day at Miyagi. What mattered most was the togetherness.

☙

Khalish, thank you for your presence. Moments with you offered me vibrant colours that have enlivened the art of motherhood. I love you!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

My family of three made our way back to Rembau last weekend although Kamal initially needed to work. He did so in the end, in our room, at my parents' place. I thanked him nevertheless for being with the others during congregational solat and zikr. Yes, the others.

Inspired by a couple of old friends' efforts to reunite other coursemates who last met each other 40 years ago, my mother held a little do for a circle of family friends. Also invited were the aforementioned old friends and a number of coursemates who have been traced. How meaningful the weekend was, thanks to their presence. Hope to meet all of you again, soon.

☙

The do reminded me of cousins galore once upon an Aidilfitri in Kampung Berkat, Rembau.
To Wan, Al-Fatihah.

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Surprise, surprise. Khalish, who has amazed Kamal and I with high pain tolerance, complaint about a little cut on a finger. Our theory: his first serious attempt to skip school. Oh, he does love school, but, he loves being at home more.

I humoured him before bath time. Pretending to be a doctor, I examined the cut. Another surprise. It was worse than yesterday. Must be caused by a hype of excitement all day long both at school and nursery. I imagined how uncomfortable it could be to write, too. Free of commitments outside the house today, I, the pretend doctor, granted him a medical leave. There went an essay I planned to complete by noon.

After a dollop of aloe vera gel on the cut, the little boy rested in front of the television. Word World was as funny as usual, but his expression portrayed pain. The affected finger was singled out from the other fingers throughout the back-to-back shows. Great, he heeded my advice for him to rest well. Which enabled me to prepare breakfast, play Sudoku, cook lunch, and type a page of essay. As I was about to start the second page of the aforementioned essay, he ran to me. "Mommy, I feel good!"

That resulted in three random thoughts. Firstly, Herbal Aloe Everyday Soothing Gel by Herbalife is soothing indeed. Secondly, I should have one in my purse. Thirdly, Khalish's announcement meant the end of my personal time.

Afterward, we played together. LEGO kept us entertained with endless possibilities. I built a studio apartment for two characters Khalish has created. He erected a maze for them to explore. Oh, we created a mess both of us loved. A mess of creative madness. Ahem.

There were various other forms of madness Khalish and I engaged in, of course. Nevertheless, our favourite activity, aside from playing with LEGO, was translating our minds into drawings. I sketched with my coloured pencils. Khalish doodled with his oil pastels. Not for long. Within minutes, he sat opposite me, A3 papers in hands. I shoved the coloured pencils to the middle of the table. We drew happily ever after. His last doodle was aptly titled 'Street Dance', in which, according to him, "daddy, Khalish, and mommy dance in the rain, on the street." I added a comment in Instagram that "we do so in Edward Scissorhands costumes."

Thank God for the opportunity to witness my son's little life progresses today. I might have not completed an essay, but, I have written a post on my simply happy day with Khalish. Which is more meaningful.